The bell rings, class is out for the day and the students file out of the room. Some plan on milling around chatting, others head out to catch the train to other sectors. The Field Medicine teacher steps out of the room and calls out “Miss Nakamura, I’d like to talk to you about your missing homework.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Taiyo and Tsuki respond in unison.

“You two are usually good about doing your work, ignoring how little you seem to care about the subject. So, why didn’t you two turn in the work that was due today?”

“Well ma’am, there was an incident last night, involving an incubus…” they respond fidgeting, clearly uncomfortable.

“Okay, and that has to do with your homework how?”

“He used his power, not sure if it was intentional. And it got unbearable, so we relieved ourselves, and passed out immediately afterward.” Taiyo and Tsuki respond, faces completely flushed and bright pink.

“Hmmm… I understand. Do both sets of homework and turn them in tomorrow,” the Field Medicine teacher dismisses them.

“Yes, ma’am!”

A few moments earlier, in the rafters,

You know what sucks? Being told to do something you really don't want to do. Hi, my name is Vera, I’m a lamia, you know, a snake person. Right now I’m lying across the rafters of the train station corridor, ditching my stealth training class. I know I was ecstatic to become a savior of the world and all, but, who would have thought it would be so much work. Oh well, I guess I'll just sit up here till the day ends, God forbid the Sarge finds me up here, I'll never hear the end of it. I open one of my eyes and scan the floor below me. You know what? Now that I look, there are quite a few cuties around here, maybe not all is as bad as I thought. I think with a rambunctious smile on my face. By the way, I’m kinda gay, so girls are on my hunting list if you know what I mean. Suddenly, two kitsune girls catch my eye. They’re saying farewell to a teacher, Wait, are those kitsune twins? I think rearing up excitedly. They are! OH! I want to squeeze them! I slurp up some drool and steady myself, No, Vera, now's not the time for that, just go back to sleep. I peak at the kitsunes again. But they're so cute, maybe just a little. I start crawling down the beams. The twins are caught by surprise as my huge snake body slides down from the rafters above onto the floor. From the coils, My human body rises off the ground slowly and I slither my way toward them. The kitsunes grab onto each other and close their eyes as if expecting to be eaten alive. What’s got them so spooked?

"Hey, I'm Vera." I greet them cheerfully. The kitsunes, still hugging each other, open their eyes and look up at my hand, outstretched to greet them.

"Whew!" they breathe a sigh of relief. They release each other.

"Why'd you have to go and scare us like that!" the twins yell in unison.

"Woah now I just wanted to say hello," I say with my hands raised.

"Well, if that's the case, it's nice to meet you." The twins reply "I'm Tsuki, and I'm Taiyo!" Tsuki bows as Taiyo does a small hop followed by a cute pose. I, no longer able to control myself, lunge forward and hug them, pressing them against my bosom.

"You're both so adorable!" I yell squeezing them tighter.

"Hold on, a minute." The twins yelp, "Can't, breathe!" They exclaim, struggling to break free.

"Oh, sorry sometimes I forget my own strength" I state nervously, releasing them.

Before the twins could speak, however, I zip behind them and places my arms over their shoulders.

"Why don't we hang out, I know a pretty chill spot over by the-" I’m interrupted,

"VERA!!!!" a loud, angry voice rattles the walls

"Oh no..." I whisper fearfully under my breath.

"Someone told me you were hanging on the ceiling again, is that why you skipped training today, HUH!?" The enraged voice yells. It's Sergeant Guile!. I let off the kitsunes.

"Tell you what..." I start saying, slithering away.

"Get over here now young lady!" Sergeant Guile screams while running toward us.

"I'll catch you guys at later date, see ya!" I tell them as my slithering picks up the pace into what you could assume to be a full on sprint. Sergeant Guile charges past them he bellows out

"When I catch you, you'll regret all of your piss poor life decisions you mangy snake!" I slide around a corner thinking I lost the Sergeant, sucker! I think, reaching an intersecting hallway.

*SLAM*

Sergeant Guile tackles me from the left with enough force to knock the wind out of me.

"H-how?" I ask, struggling to breathe.

"You really aren't that hard to read shit for brains, now get up, we're heading back to stealth training" Guile states angrily. As I raise myself, a bell rings signifying the end of the day, I laugh ad begin to mock Guile.

“Looks like the day's ended sarge, guess I'll head home and... " Guiles elbow slams into my face knocking me down again and sending me into a haze

"Well, that's just too damn bad princess, guess you'll have to pull an all-nighter, huh?" He drags me away by my arm,

"Whyyyy?" I groan, tears running down my face as I imagine never seeing my warm bed tonight.

Meanwhile, across the street,

What a pissed off looking girl. That’s what people say quietly as I pass them on the sidewalk. They rush to avoid me and immediately look away. I don’t really give a shit. At least they know better than to piss me off. My name is Fane, a drake with a very, very short temper. I don’t wear much for clothes, too much clothing pisses me off. But just because I’m practically naked doesn’t mean I’m eliciting sex, dickhead. With sharp, glaring eyes I look around. I notice people talking and laughing in a park as well as.. a lamia? Being pulled across the floor in the distance? This place is fucking annoying. Then out of nowhere a delinquent lookin’ ass motherfucking oni bumps into me, shoving me aside. The fuck!? I spin around quickly.

"HEY, ASSHOLE!" I yell, the Oni turns around. He has one stupid ass looking face. I won’t describe it because it’s so stupid.

"You talkin' to me?" He asks sharply. Who does he think he is? I charge up to him yelling.

"Who the fuck else do you think I'm talking to, dickbreath!?" People start crowding the area like a bunch of nosey sheep, have they never seen a damn fight before? Like, fuck all you guys! The oni smirks at me.

"Look, girl, just let it go." He says mockingly. My eye twitches with anger. He then slowly scans my body with his eyes

“Hey, I like tough girls like you. How’s about me and you hang out? I promise you’ll… enjoy yourself” he says flirtatiously. Now I’m really mad, do I look like a two-bit whore to you asshole!? Flames start bleeding from my mouth.

"Don’t fuck with me!" I yell, flames now pouring from my mouth with every word.

"You mother-" I swing my fist at the Oni,

"FUCKER!!!!" I yell as the oni lifts his hand to grab my fist Thinking his strength is far superior to mine. What a joke.

*CRACK*

The bones in his hand shattered. My fist, with his hand still on it, plows into his chest sending him flying back. He falls to the ground.

"Th-the fuck?!" He screams. The pain from his pulverized hand starting to set in.

"My hand! you bitch!" His anger is crushed when he looks up. My towering, darkened figure is now standing above him, fire leaking from either side of my face.

*pop*

*pop*

I crack my knuckles.

"I'm not done with you yet, fuckface," I growl.

"W-wait!" He pleads.

"I'm finished! You win, look, I'm not gonna fight back!" I glare at him.

"Naw..." I hiss

"We'll be done here..." I snarl, grabbing the oni's collar and raising my fist.

"WHEN YOU'RE FUCKING DEAD!!!" I yell and starts to swing. The oni screams as my punch closes in.

*PSHHHT*

(Narrator chimes in)

Fane's fist stops inches from the oni's face, her eyes widen and her pupils dim. She falls face first onto the ground, the oni still paralyzed by fear looks at her now motionless body. Bystanders look to see a dart lodged in her neck. Footsteps can be heard closing in. Everyone looks to see Sgt. Guile, still dragging Vera, walk up and toss Fane's body over his shoulder. He looks at the Oni

"I'll be taking her to the detention center, You should go to the medical bay and get your hand fixed..." He says calmly. Guile looks down a little

"And a new pair of pants." He points down at the oni's soaked trousers. Guile walks off, a spectacle to be held, with an unconscious Drake slumped over his shoulder and a crying Lamia being dragged behind him. The Oni stands up and walks awkwardly toward the medical bay. I'll get back at that bitch, you'll see! He thinks to himself. Meanwhile, Fane, mumbles about how cute lizards are happily in her sleep, a smile pasted nicely across her demonic little face.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back at the training grounds,

Sgt. Guile drags Vera to the stealth training field. The field is covered by sandbag barriers, fake bushes, concrete barricades, basically anything you can use to sneak around. There are even tunnels dug under the ground as alternate routes. Guile opens a duffle bag he's been carrying.

"Ok, Vera, take this knife and vest." Guile tosses what seems to be a plastic knife with a dull metal edge and neoprene shirt

"You should know how this works, the vests have sensors in them..." Guile is cut off

"And if we're hit with the knife's edge the vests will glow where the cut is, I know," Vera says annoyed as she puts on the vest. Guile walks toward the center of the field,

"Remember, now's not the time for slacking, dickhead!" Guile yells out into the darkness.

"If you can strike me three times we can both go home." He turns to find Vera has already disappeared into the surroundings.

"But don't rush..." Guile starts, he hears a quiet sliding sound behind him.

"Because if you do, you'll never even touch me!" He yells turning around, blocking Vera's knife hand and runs the knife across her stomach. Vera jumps back,

"Damn!" She groans as she slithers back into the bushes.

"To sneak up on your opponent is to hunt them..." Guile starts lecturing,

"The only time they should know you're attacking..." He sees Vera at the corner of his eye, he ducks under her swing and slides the knife across her right side.

"Is when you've already secured the kill" He finishes. Vera slides back into the shadows.

An eerie silence sets in, Guile has nothing more to say and Vera is stalking, waiting for her moment. One minute, two minutes, three painfully long minutes pass.

*FWOOSH*

Vera flies out from the shadows straight at Guile. The sergeant, however, turns immediately to counter. Vera quickly grips the sarge's knife hand and moves it aside, she then strikes his chest with her knife and darts back into the shadows.

"Good, but not good enough!" Guile starts again

"let's see if that works again!" Guile finishes and readies himself. Guile hears Vera's slithering, but its location is strange, he looks down and realizes where he's standing. Guile has positioned himself just over the entrance of a subterranean tunnel. He starts to move but it was too late, Vera jumps out and tags his leg at the achilles tendon. She dives back into the hole before Guile could react.

"You know..." Guile says

"We won't see any damage unless you hit the vest…" He pauses.

"But I'll count it." He smiles and shifts away from the tunnel, now he's ready for anything”

*dink*

*dink*

*dink*

The sound of Vera's knife tapping on the concrete barricades. She's masking her own sound with the echoes of her knife Guile thinks to himself.

*dinK*

*diNK*

*dINK*

The sound gets closer.

*DINK*

It stops. Guile listens closely. He hears the crunch of the sandbags next to him being grabbed. Suddenly, Vera flies out from behind the sandbags, but he is ready for her, Guile grabs her knife hand and she grabs his. Guile throws Vera down, gets on top of her, positions his knife over her chest and starts lowering it. Vera smirks.

*poke*

Guile stops, closes his eyes and smiles

"Well, I'll be damned." Guile says, finally realizing her knife hand is empty. Vera moves her tail away from his back, fused to the tip is her knife.

"That makes three," She says smugly. Guile gets off of her,

"You sneaky little snake." He states with a sigh.

"That's how you jumped out from behind sandbags." he says, thinking back.

"The knife was on your tail behind the concrete barricade, that's where the noise was coming from." He concludes, lying on the floor. Vera rises,

"So I did it, right?" She asks, looking at him with tired eyes.

"Yeah, you did good, just don't skip class anymore you hear?" Guile says softly.

"I don't know..." Vera starts

"you kinda kept me up late..." She stops when Guile rises.

"VEEERRRAAAA..." He says menacingly. Vera raises her hands

"Ok, ok I get it." She says nervously.

"Anyway we should go ba-" Guile is cut off by a surge of pain,

"GAH!" He falls to one knee.

"Sarge!" Vera screams, darting to his aid. Guile is holding his chest tightly.

"How long have you been out?" She asks

"Sixteen hours, I got up at seven this morning." Guile answers. Vera helps him to his feet,

"You shouldn't push yourself," She says warmly and pulls his arm over her shoulder. Guile smirks,

"Hey, you got better at stealth didn't you?" Guile says and starts laughing. Vera looks at him unamused.

"I'll take you to the hospital, okay?" She says as they start walking off. Heh! that's just like her, Guile thinks to himself, the hospital about a block away now, she acts lazy most of the time, even to the point of pissing me off. but when it counts she works harder than most people, He thinks looking over at Vera.

"Aaaaaaaggggghhhh" Vera calls out

"I'm starting to get tired, can't I just drop you here and let you crawl to the hospital on your own?" She says in a whiny tone.

"DON'T! YOU! DARE!" Guile snarls, gripping the back of her neck forcefully.

"OW! OW! just kidding, just kidding, mercy! geez." She cries out. Ok, maybe I spoke a little too soon, Guile thinks to himself as they reach the hospital doors.

The next day during Fiend Biology Class,

Class, the most pointless part of the day. However, I’ve found a way to get through it and make good use of it. You see, the best part of this school is the simulation, a perfect recreation of our world in virtual reality, able to transport you to a world where one can truly hone his skill, and I managed to download it to my helmet. You see, I am a dullahan, a headless human with a few added bonuses, among them the ability to see imminent death, and my favorite ability, Harbinger. Harbinger allows me to increase the power of my attacks by charging them up first. The longer I charge, the stronger the attack, though it’s loud and obvious as all hell. So, to keep my detached head firmly where it is supposed to be normally, I have a helmet specially made to attach to my suit and keep it in place. This helmet also serves to let me use the simulation wherever I please, even in class. During the simulation, the helmet stops my ability to move in the real world and turns the impulses into movement in the sim, so people don’t notice me acting crazy in class and call me out on it. However, this time, right as the simulation ended, something caught my eye which made me jerk, and due to it being right as the simulation ended, it affected the real world, and it was anything but subtle.

“Problem Cadet?” Staff Sergeant Guile bellows from the front of the room as I right myself.

“Uh, no sir.” I fumble to get the words out, still trying to get my senses together after that display. He sighs and looks the floor, the pointer he had in his hand slumping to his side in exasperation.

“Vaughn, you need to pay more attention in class, when we go out to the field today you’ll be running an extra two miles and I exp-”

“That’s Bullshit!” I cut Guile off in the middle of his reprimand. “Why should I be forced to sit here in class learning about pointless things like,” I gesture towards the board which has an image of the anatomy of a brute divided up into sections on it, “the digestive system of a brute when I could find that out by practicing the sim, and improve my other skills at the same time!” I yell, indignant towards the instructor. I look out over the rest of my classmates, “You’ve all seen it for yourself, I’m undefeated in the sim, nothing you’ve taught them can make them best me.” People nod from all around the class slowly in recognition, me having beaten all of them at least once and my record perfectly clear of losses. “I’ve topped the leaderboards in every category and have set records, and you say that this knowledge here can make me better and is a better use of my time?” I state all of this totally indignant, gazing down at Guile, daring him with my eyes to challenge me.

“Fine, if you think that your sim is the ultimate in training, that nothing can beat you because of it, let's put that to the test, shall we? Me versus you in the simulator. One match, you win, you get free access to anywhere on the campus until graduation. You don’t have to attend even one more class, you could spend all of your time in the sim or at the shooting range if you wanted to, however, if I win, you come here and attend every class from now on, no more ignoring class to do simulations, you come here to learn properly, and you do five extra miles.” I grin, knowing that he’s just challenged me to the one thing I know I can best Guile at.

“Alright, sounds good to me, let’s do this thing shall we?” I look at him, I know I will win, and my face shows it.

“Come class, let me show you exactly what all this training you are doing can give back to you.” He says as he begins to stride in the direction of the simulator, everyone following behind him. People are excited now, it’s the match of the century, after all, the undefeated king of the simulator versus Guile, the instructor always riding people about the importance of class. I’m going to make you regret those words about letting me use the simulator whenever I want Guile, you’ll see.

(Guile's POV)

The round started, and the cityscape formed before my eyes. A familiar sight, I knew where I was going as I began to run. Armed with a pistol and my knife, I made my way to the large skyscraper that was close to Vaughn’s started position. As a sniper, of course he would make his way there so he could have sight over everything around him. It was a huge map, intended to be able to accept any kind of playstyle and truly simulate a real battle within a city. I made it within two miles before his first shot rung out. Even trying to avoid his line of sight, Vaughn knew the locations people would use to get close to his position after so many rounds of the sim, so he managed to notice me even despite my best efforts. It being a round from a 20mm rifle, it made the world around me explode, concrete from the cover it shred flew everywhere like shrapnel and I was blown off my feet. The pistol was lost, being flung far away from me, and out into the open where Vaughn would make mincemeat of me if I decided to try and retrieve it. For a cadet, Vaughn both shot and acted like a trained professional. Thirteen or more hours a day of either simulation or the shooting range would do that to a person, give them long enough. Instead, I ran towards the tower, avoiding his line of sight and continuing to make my way there.

The next two miles were hell to get through, constantly under fire no matter the route I took, only narrowly avoiding each of his shots as he put round after round in my direction. However, once I got close enough to his tower, he stopped firing, I was too close for his rifle to get an angle on me. I began cautiously ascending the stairs, making my way towards the room I knew he was in from taking note of the flash of every shot. As I approached the room, I was careful to take note of everything in my surroundings. I knew Vaughn had access to claymores, so it was fairly obvious he’d have one guarding his back. Low and behold, I found the mine’s tripwire on the threshold of the doorway that held Vaughn. After swiftly disarming it, I readied the knife I had with me. I’d end this with one swift blow to the back of his head, Vaughn’s tough for a dullahan, but even he can’t survive a knife blow to the skull. I closed the distance and made my move, pouncing towards him, bringing the knife down to strike the blow. However, as my knife sunk through the helmet, I realized my mistake. My one error was believing Vaughn needed his head to fight. He must have known I had gotten too close to his position to keep firing, but instead of moving set up a trap and left his head in a hiding place, of course, he wouldn’t stay in a position he knew was compromised without a good plan. Dullahan’s bodies can sense things and fight very well even without a head to see, they can even “hear” without their ears.

So as I came down with my knife, he twisted upwards with his. I barely avoided it in time, rolling out of the way just as it came up. We both rolled into fighting positions and he was the first to make a move, drawing his pistol. I moved quickly to dodge his first three round burst, getting in close to try and get the gun from him. The knife came up and I blocked his arm, pushing it to the side, as I held the gun back just in time to avoid his second three round burst of fire. I knocked it out of his hand just as he came back down with his knife, recovering from the block and I backed up to get out of the way. He slashed again and this time I successfully disarmed him, knocking the knife away. However, Vaughn is stubborn enough to carry a second knife, always refusing to be disarmed and out of options. He stabbed it towards me and I barely made it out of the way in time, but I got the opportunity, and so I stripped him of his final weapon. Now it was my turf, hand to hand combat was my specialty, so I launched a punch into his chest, expecting him to panic, and falter.

I was wrong, instead, he gave me a punch to the stomach in return. He stumbled back a bit and so did I. Right. He didn’t have his head here, so taking him down and finishing this fight would be a pain with fists and he might even best me. So instead I came at him, acting like I was going for another punch and sure enough he swung at me, eager to trade blows. But my attack was just a feint and I rolled for the pistol he had been disarmed of earlier. I grabbed it and put one shot into his shoulder, the blow causing him to leave his back open to me. I put the last two rounds in the gun directly into his back, on a path to his heart. However, as I said earlier, Vaughn isn’t known for being one who gives up easily. Despite his wounds, his body looked at me with what could only be described as a look that said: “You’ve done it now.” However, as he strode towards me, determined to win, I grabbed one of his fallen knives and charged into him, sliding into under his solar plexus and right up into him. His body finally failing, just before he went down he put up his hands and put them to my neck, trying in a last desperate attempt to choke me, and win the simulation. But it was to no avail, his wounds took him and the simulation ended, Vaughn’s win streak came to a close.